Modular fence construction

ABSTRACT

A channel member is C-shaped in cross section and has a length, width and thickness bearing a predetermined relation with respect to the width and depth of the elongated slot on one face of the channel. The slot width and depth is such that the channel can be used both as fence post and as a fence rail with the post and rail in interlocking relation. Various orientations of the vertical fence posts provide L-shaped and T-shaped corners, and by arranging the horizontal rails so that the slots face in suitable directions a variety of rail patterns can be formed. Spacers between adjacent rails afford an open, or corral-type, of fence and, if desired, the channel members can also be used to form a trim cap along the top of the fence.

United States Patent Burrows, Jr.

[54] MODULAR FENCE CONSTRUCTION [72] Inventor: Clinton A. Burrows, Jr.,4441 Rand Lane, Sacramento, Calif. 95825 [22] Filed: April 26, 1971 [21]Appl. No.: 137,236

[52] US. Cl ..256/19, 256/24 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04h 17/14 [58] Field ofSearch ..256/19, 24, 25, 26, 65, 59; 52/589 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,101,929 8/1963 Dvore ..256/24 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 3,597 8/1927 Australia ..256/19 585,280 10/1959 Canada..256/19 51 .Oct. 17, 1972 590,047 7/1947 Great Britain ..256/19 PrimaryExaminer-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Lothrop & West [5 7] ABSTRACT Achannel member is C-shaped in cross section and has a length, width andthickness bearing a predetermined relation with respect to the width anddepth of the elongated slot on one face of the channel. The slot widthand depth is such that the channel can be used both as fence post and asa fence rail with the post and rail in interlocking relation. Variousorientations of the vertical fence posts provide L-shaped and T- shapedcorners, and by arranging the horizontal rails so that the slots face insuitable directions a variety of rail patterns can be formed. Spacersbetween adjacent rails afford an open, or corral-type, of fence and, ifdesired, the channel members can also be used to form a trim cap alongthe top of the fence.

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MODULAR FENCE CONSTRUCTION The invention relates to improvements inmodular fence constructions.

It is an object of the invention to provide a modular fence constructionwhich is substantially entirely made up of components having identicaldimensions, and which can, therefore, be produced very economically.

It is another object of the invention to provide a modular fenceconstruction in which the components can be cast or molded or otherwiseformed of any suitable material, such as concrete, wood, plastic,compressed and fused wood particles, or the like.

It is a further object of. the invention to provide a modular fencewhich can easily and quickly be built by only two people owing to therelatively light weight of its components and the uniformity of size ofits components which minimizes measuring.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a modular fenceconstruction which eliminates the need for nails, bolts, struts, wiresand other fastenings and bracings.

It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a modular fenceconstruction which is not only pleasing in appearance but which is verystrong and requires little or no upkeep.

It is another object of the invention to provide a generally improvedmodular fence construction.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in theembodiment described in the following description and illustrated inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a typical installation, withportions broken away to reduce the extent of the figure;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the top of a fence, showinga fence cap construction;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, the plane of the section beingindicated by the line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on the line 44in FIG. 2.

While the modular fence construction of my invention is susceptible ofnumerous physical embodiments, depending upon the environment andrequirements of use, substantial numbers of the herein shown anddescribed embodiment have been made, tested and used, and all haveperformed in an eminently satisfactory manner.

The modular fence construction of the invention, generally designated bythe reference numeral 11, is characterized by the fact thatsubstantially all of its components are almost identical in sizeandconfiguration.

This basic unit comprises an elongated channel member 12 having apredetermined length, such as 92% inches, a predetermined width, such as8 inches, and a predetermined thickness, such as 3 inches.

An elongated central slot 13 is formed on the front face 14 of thechannel member 12, and extends from one end 15 to the other end 16, theslot having a bottom width of, for example, 3 inches. The slot 13 isformed with a slight taper, or draft, during the molding or castingoperation so that the outer width of the slot at the front face of thechannel slightly exceeds the bottom width of 3 inches. The taper affordseasy starting access to a channel member with one of its side edges 17or one of its ends 15 or 16 directed toward the slot preparatory toinserting the channel end or edge into snugly fitting relation withinthe slot.

At the left-hand end of FIG. 1, two channel members 12 are placedvertically with their backs 19 in touching engagement so as to form avery sturdy terminal post member 20, or anchor, at the end of the fence.Since the slot 13 in the left-hand post is exposed, the fence can, ifdesired, be extended in a left-hand direction at a future time.

The back to back arrangement of posts 21 and 22 at the left-hand end ofFIG. 1 finds its counterpart in the arrangement of twin posts 23 and 24crossing the T- comer in the upper center of FIG. 1.

In order to form a panel 26 between the end or terminal post member 20,comprising the posts 21 and 22, and the intermediate post member 28,comprising the posts 23 and 24, a plurality of channel members 12 isplaced in horizontal attitude to form horizontal rails 31. The rails arelocated one on top of the other, with the ends of the horizontal railsinserted into the open, or facing slots 13, of the adjacent verticalposts 22 and 23.

The snug relation of the rail ends in the slots in the vertical postsaffords a very secure interlock, or interconnection, which is highlyresistant to lateral displacement and the cumulative weight of the railsmakes the panel 26 very strong and rigid.

Panel 26, it will be noted, is characterized by having all of the slots13 in the horizontal rails facing inwardly. With this arrangement, theslots afford toe supports enabling the panel to be climbed readily fromthe inside. The outside surface, however, is uninterrupted and thesmooth face renders climbing difficult. Such a construction lends itselfespecially well to commercial uses, such as fence walls around a storageyard, and the like.

Panel 36, an alignment with but to the right of panel 26, as seen inFIG. 1, has all of its horizontal rails arranged so that the slots 13face outwardly, for esthetic purposes, for example. Total security isnot desired in the case of panel 36 and, in fact, alternate rails 31- inpanel 36 are replaced by pairs of spacer blocks 38 and 39 so as toprovide an open type of fence such as would be suitable, for example, ina horse corral. The spacer blocks 38 and 39 are shorter in length thanthe channel members 12 but are the same in width and thickness. They mayor may not have slots formed therein. In FIG. 1, the spacer blocks 38and 39 do not have slots.

Where a T-shaped corner is necessary, such as that generally indicatedby the reference numeral 41 in F IG. 1, a third channel member isprovided. The third channel 42 is placed vertically, next to the posts23 and 24, and as shown, is oriented so that the vertical slot in post42 faces at relative to the slots in the posts 23 and 24 so that thehorizontal rails 31 can be arranged, as desired, to form the panel 44which forms the leg of the T-shaped corner.

At the distal end of the panel 44, the channel ends are interlocked intothe vertical slot of the post 46, which, along with a second post 47, inback to face relation with the post 46, forms another terminal postmember 49. The smooth back surface 19 of the post 47 along with thesmooth, coplanar side edges 17 of the posts 46 and 47 affords a finishedappearance and one which is resistant to being climbed.

As appears most clearly and typically in FIG. 1, which discloses abroken away portion of the ground, the bottoms of the vertical fenceposts, such as the posts 46 and 47, are preferably secured in a block ofconcrete 51 poured as cement into a post hole 52 in the ground 53, withthe terminal post member 49 properly positioned with respect to therequired distance from the adjacent post, the desired depth into thehole and plumbness as to attitude.

At the end of the panel 36 remote from the T-corner 41, the rails 31 arelodged in the slot of the vertical post 56 which, together with thevertical post 57 forms an L- shaped corner 58. The post 57 is orientedso that its slot faces 90 away from the slot in post 56, and istherefore able to receive the ends of the horizontal rails 31 formin gpanel 61.

Panel 61 is characterized by an alternating arrangement of slots, withsome slots facing inwardly and others facing outwardly. Such a patternprovides an interesting detail; and, where it is used as a commonboundary wall between neighbors, affords an equality of treatmentacceptable to both.

The terminal member 63 at the distal end of panel 61 resembles an l-beamin that the first post 66 which holds the adjacent ends of the rails,corresponds to the central web portion of an l-beam whereas the posts 67and 68 correspond to the flanges. This l-beam construction is verystrong and can appropriately be utilized, for example, in a fence on orabout a vehicle parking lot where the fence might be subjected tobuffeting by carelessly handled vehicles.

As previously explained, all of the bottom ends of all of the verticalposts are sunk at least a foot or two into the concrete. Thisconstruction, together with the weight of the rails and the snuginterlock between the rails and posts, affords a very strong and securefence.

It is sometimes desired, however, in the interests of esthetics as wellas additional security, to mount a horizontal cap structure 71 on top ofthe fence, as appears most clearly in FIGS. 2-4.

The cap 71 comprises, in the portion shown, two channel members 72 and73 laid face down so that the elongated slots 13 are in registry withthe upwardly facing side edge 17 of the subjacent horizontal rail 74.Where a cap is to be used, it is often preferred to have the upper edge17 of the top rail 74 protrude slightly above the upper end of thevertical post, thereby affording an elongated key 75 extending upwardlysomewhat into the registering elongated slot 13, corresponding to akeyway. Mortar or a suitable adhesive, such as an epoxy resin, can beused at all suitable joints and junctions, if desired.

Thus, where the ends of the cap members 72 and 73 overlie the respectivesubjacent upper ends of the posts 77 and 78, mortar or other suitableadhesive can be used. So also, as indicated most clearly in FIG. 3,mortar or other binding material 79 can be utilized to affix the spacerplug 81 located on top of the posts 77 and 78 and spanning the gapbetween the adjacent ends of the cap members 72 and 73.

As heretofore indicated, the channel members are so dimensioned that inthe customary installation, the portion of the vertical fence protrudingabove ground level is a whole multiple of the channel width. Thus, afterthe vertical posts are installed and the concrete has set the horizontalrails can be lowered one at a time down the track, or groove, formed bythe facing slots in adjacent posts; and when the top rail has beenplaced in position, the upper side edge of the rail will besubstantially flush with the top end of the vertical posts. A variationfrom this, as previously mentioned, occurs when it is desired to afforda key to fit into the keyway, or slot, where a cap is to be used, andthe additional strength of a key is desired.

Fences having fence posts on 8-foot centers are widely used and known.Consequently, by making the channel member, 92% inches long, theaddition thereto of two channels web thicknesses (each 1% inches)together with i t-inch play, or positive tolerance, in the depth of'eachslot, a total of 96 inches or distance of 8 feet between post centers isattained. The post holes, in other words, can be dug 8 feet apart, andthus the present modular fence construction conforms with the spacingwidely used in the construction of fences for many years.

In installing the fence it is customary first to dig the post holes toproper depth, followed by placing all of the posts loosely in theircorresponding holes. Then, preferably starting at one end of the fence,the end or terminal post members are placed in the holes to the desireddepth and the cement poured. Depth adjustment and vertical plumbness ismaintained while the bottom rail extending to the next fence post isproperly oriented and inserted both in the first post and in the slot ofthe next fence post, 8 feet distant. The next fence post is thereuponadjusted and concrete poured, while maintaining proper height and plumb.This cycle is repeated to the other end of the fence, with T-corners,L-corners and other excursions attended to along the path of the fence.

After this primary construction has been completed, the concrete isallowed to set. Thereafter, the second, and final, phase of theinstallation is taken care of, namely, the placement of the horizontalrails and, if desired, of the fence cap.

it can therefore be seen that l have provided a highly versatile modularfence construction which is not only readily and easily installed, butwhich is also strong, durable and esthetically pleasing.

What is claimed is:

l. A modular fence construction comprising:

a. a plurality of pairs of vertical channel-shaped post members;

1. each of said post members extending between opposite ends and havinga predetermined length, each of said post members also including a frontside having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side,and a pair of opposite side edges, the transverse width of said slotbeing in excess of the thickness of said post member measured betweensaid front side and said back side by an amount rendering said slotcapable of selectively receiving either of said ends in snug relation;

2. each of said pairs of post members including a first one of said postmembers and a second one of said post members, said first one and saidsecond one of said post members being oriented to face toward each otherin mirror symmetry with said slots in register and spaced apart adistance substantially equal to said predetermined length of each ofsaid post members;

3. each of said plurality of pairs of post members being arranged in asubstantially continuous configuration with the intermediate of saidpairs of post members each having one of said post members in back toback relation with respect to the adjacent one of said post members inthe contiguous one of said pairs of post members; and,

. a plurality of horizontal, channel-shaped rail members spanning thedistance between said registering slots in each of said facing pairs ofvertical post members to form a fence panel, each of said rail membersextending between opposite ends and having a length equal to saidpredetermined length of said vertical post members, each of said railmembers also including a front side having an elongated end to end slotformed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, thedimensions of said front side, said slot, said back side and said sideedges of each of said rail members being equal to the correspondingdimensions of each of said post members.

2. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein each of saidvertical post members is installed with one of said ends in the ground adistance such that the height of the above-ground portion of said postmember is substantially a whole multiple of the width of one of saidrail members measured between said opposite side edges of said railmember and wherein each of said pairs of vertical post members isoriented with said slots in facing relation to receive said ends of saidhorizontal rail members.

3. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of saidvertical post members at one end of a first one of said fence panels isarranged in back to back relation with another of said post members atthe adjacent end of a second one of said fence panels contiguous to andin linear alignment with said first one of said fence panels.

4. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of saidvertical post members at one end of a first one of said fence panels isarranged in a predetermined angular relation with respect to another of'said post members located at the adjacent end of a second one of saidfence panels contiguous to said first one of said fence panels and inangular orientation with respect thereto corresponding to saidpredetermined angular relation.

5. A modular fence construction as in claim 4 wherein said predeterminedangular relation of said one of said post members and said another ofsaid post members and said angular orientation of said first one of saidfence panels with respect to said second one of said fence panels, is

6. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein all of saidhorizontal rail members in at least one of said fence panels arearranged so that said elongated slots face in the same direction.

7. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein said horizontalrail members in at least one of said fence panels are arranged with saidelongated slots in adjacent rails facing in alternating oppositedirections.

8. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein adjacent ones ofsaid horizontal rail members are spaced apart to afford a plurality ofhorizontal spaced openings.

9. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said railmembers is arranged in horizontal attitude with said slotted front sidefacing downwardly in register with the subjacent horizontal side edge ofthe underlying one of said horizontal rail members to form a horizontalcap member covering said underlying rail member, said ends of saidhorizontal cap member also overlying the subjacent upper ends of theadjacent pair of vertical post members.

1. A modular fence construction comprising: a. a plurality of pairs of vertical channel-shaped post members;
 1. each of said post members extending between opposite ends and having a predetermined length, each of said post members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the transverse width of said slot being in excess of the thickness of said post member measured between said front side and said back side by an amount rendering said slot capable of selectively receiving either of said ends in snug relation;
 2. each of said pairs of post members including a first one of said post members and a second one of said post members, said first one and said second one of said post members being oriented to face toward each other in mirror symmetry with said slots in register and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to said predetermined length of each of said post members;
 3. each of said plurality of pairs of post members being arranged in a substantially continuous configuration with the intermediate of said pairs of post members each having one of said post members in back to back relation with respect to the adjacent one of said post members in the contiguous one of said pairs of post members; and, b. a plurality of horizontal, channel-shaped rail members spanning the distance between said registering slots in each of said facing pairs of vertical post members to form a fence panel, each of said rail members extending between opposite ends and having a length equal to said predetermined length of said vertical post members, each of said rail members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the dimensions of said front side, said slot, said back side and said side edges of each of said rail members being equal to the corresponding dimensions of each of said post members.
 2. each of said pairs of post members including a first one of said post members and a second one of said post members, said first one and said second one of said post members being oriented to face toward each other in mirror symmetry with said slots in register and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to said predetermined length of each of said post members;
 2. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein each of said vertical post members is installed with one of said ends in the ground a distance such that the height of the above-ground portion of said post member is substantially a whole multiple of the width of one of said rail members measured between said opposite side edges of said rail member and wherein each of said pairs of vertical post members is oriented with said slots in facing relation to receive said ends of said horizontal rail members.
 3. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said vertical post members at one end of a first one of said fence panels is arranged in back to back relation with another of said post members at the adjacent end of a second one of said fence panels contiguous to and in linear alignment with said first one of said fence panels.
 3. each of said plurality of pairs of post members being arranged in a substantially continuous configuration with the intermediate of said pairs of post members each having one of said post members in back to back relation with respect to the adjacent one of said post members in the contiguous one of said pairs of post members; and, b. a plurality of horizontal, channel-shaped rail members spanning the distance between said registering slots in each of said facing pairs of vertical post members to form a fence panel, each of said rail members extending between opposite ends and having a length equal to said predetermined length of said vertical post members, each of said rail members also including a front side having an elongated end to end slot formed therein, a back side, and a pair of opposite side edges, the dimensions of said front side, said slot, said back side and said side edges of each of said rail members being equal to the corresponding dimensions of each of said post members.
 4. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said vertical post members at one end of a first one of said fence panels is arranged in a predetermined angular relation with respect to another of said post members located at the adjacent end of a second one of said fence panels contiguous to said first one of said fence panels and in angular orientation with respect thereto corresponding to said predetermined angular relation.
 5. A modular fence construction as in claim 4 wherein said predetermined angular relation of said one of said post members and said another of said post members and said angular orientation of said first one of said fence panels with respect to said second one of said fence panels, is 90*.
 6. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein all of said horizontal rail members in at least one of said fence panels are arranged so that said elongated slots face in the same direction.
 7. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein said horizontal rail members in at least one of said fence panels are arranged with said elongated slots in adjacent rails facing in alternating opposite directions.
 8. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein adjacent ones of said horizontal rail members are spaced apart to afford a plurality of horizontal spaced openings.
 9. A modular fence construction as in claim 1 wherein one of said rail members is arranged in horizontal attitude with said slotted front side facing downwardly in register with the subjacent horizontal side edge of the underlying one of said horizontal rail members to form a horizontal cap member covering said underlying rail member, said ends of said horizontal cap member also overlying the subjacent upper ends of the adjacent pair of vertical post members. 